Alex D.

Review of Bar Fruit

04 May 08, 15:45

Mmmmm, vodka!

The atmosphere in Fruit at the weekend is always really good - it's a good mix between those on their way to one of the clubs in Bournemouth but you also get a fair few people who just stay in the bar all night, and with the famous flavoured vodkas you can't really blame them!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bournemouth Airport

04 May 08, 15:42

brilliant local airport!

If you live locally then Bournemouth Airport is ideal - it's not that big so you can turn up, there's never a big queue to check-in, and you can go through to departures (which takes all of 30 seconds to get to!) and then you're right at the gate to your plane already! It's that little local touch that bigger airports just can't match, try as they might! The range of shops/eateries isn't that great but then you're not going on holiday for the cafe at the airport are you?!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Penn Central

04 May 08, 15:34

great classy place to go...

When I first heard about this place I thought it was a stationers. How wrong can you be!

It's a classy restaurant/bar that offers up something a little bit different to the usual which make it a great place to go with friends . Things like the glass floor are just a nice touch!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Toys 'R' Us

04 May 08, 15:26

toys as far as the eye can see (or further if you're short sighte

Remember the adverts with 'Geoffrey' the big yellow Giraffe? He said there were millions all under one roof, and I think this is the roof he was talking about! Toys 'R' Us is brilliant around Christmas time (and also therefore extremely busy), but pop in any other time of year and you'll find it full of toys all year round! They've got stuff for all ages of kids (and stuff even the grown-ups will like!), it's the type of place I'd love to be let loose for a Dale Winton Supermarket Sweep-stylee trolley dash because I'd pick up all sorts!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Sixty Million Postcards

04 May 08, 15:17

decent little place...!

I can't work out whether it is a brilliant name for a bar or a stupid name. Either way it is different and catches the eye as you're walking down the street, as does the funky decor inside! The drinks are good and the food is pretty awesome too!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Pizza Hut

04 May 08, 15:15

good attentive staff

As far as Pizza Huts go this place is fairly good - there is ample parking which is a good thing because it's usually fairly busy whenever I've been in - even the takeaway bit! The staff are much better than some other Pizza Hut restaurants - serving fairly efficiently with a smile on their faces, it's pizza exactly how it should be!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of George Fry

04 May 08, 15:13

how it should be!

This local independent electrical retailer really shows up the big boys because the prices are reasonable, the staff really know what they're talking about, and if you need them to help out with delivery or repair or whatnot they're more than happy to do it...

Why can't the big chains get stuff like this right?! Definitely a big plus in favour of local independents. We need more places like this to keep our High Streets alive!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bath Travel

04 May 08, 15:05

great local holiday agent

The Bournemouth branch of Bath Travel is as good as any of the others. They're located right in the town centre so many workers pop in on their lunchbreak to fix up a holiday - it helps them through the afternoon at work!

The guys here are really friendly and get to know you so they can sell you the holiday you really want, which is great and doesn't leave you feeling cold like some other agents can.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bournemouth International Centre

04 May 08, 15:04

great for gigs...

I've seen some great gigs here over the years and the BIC continues to pull in bigger and bigger names! It's now become the entertainment centre that Bournemouth deserves - there's always someone big playing within the next few weeks and it's easy to get to unlike some concert venues across the country!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Weymouth Sealife Park

04 May 08, 15:01

good day out for the kids!

The Sealife Park continues to go from strength to strength - it's one of those places that is constantly trying to think of new ways to tweak it's attractions and add new bits onto it with success... Kids love it and it's not as expensive as some other aquariums can be plus look out for discount vouchers in the local paper...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bournemouth Bedding Centres

04 May 08, 14:58

good selection & experienced staff!

They've been selling beds since beds were invented, almost, and so they know their stuff! They've got a good range as well, and to top it all off they offer free delivery! We've used them in the past and they've never let us down...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Mr Kyp's

04 May 08, 14:56

good night guaranteed (once you've found it...)

Every time I try and get to this place I get lost, but once you've found it you're in for a good night! They book some great acts to appear and put on special nights which are well worth popping along to as well! What I love about this place is it doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is - a damn good entertainment venue!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Eye Of The Tiger

04 May 08, 14:54

almost excellent, but not quite!

This place has been going for as long as I can remember and continues to bring in the customers - as well it should, the food is very good, and the prices are reasonable too. It just lacks that little touch that COULD make this place so much better, I can't quite put my finger on it, it could just be a lick of paint the place needs - in which case I still wouldn't put my finger on it, because it would be wet paint of course...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Champagne Bar at St Pancras

04 May 08, 14:45

Europe's Longest Champagne Bar!

This place touts itself as "Europe's Longest Champagne Bar"... Cleverly that tagline doesn't mention whether the place is actually any good or not!

...It is good, by the way, it really is! You can have a sit down and pretend to be all posh. Obviously if you genuinely WERE posh you wouldn't be traveling by train - you would be in a car with a chauffeur. Anyway, they do actually sell drinks other than champagne, they don't crank up the price THAT much and service is quite efficient.

The only thing you need to worry about is if you see your train driver sat next to you downing a bottle...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of St. Pancras Railway Station

04 May 08, 14:42

a piece of brilliance!

The new Kings Cross St. Pancaras International is a delightful piece of architecture/engineering/design! The way they mix the old bits with the new bits, the way they've put it all together, and the way that it actually works as a railway station too is phenomenal!

The only bad thing about it is that because most people are just here to catch a train they don't really stop to have a look around. Next time your train is delayed (and it will be - it is a train after all!) go have a wander and experience the place as more than just a collection of platforms - you'll be impressed!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Brantano Footware

04 May 08, 14:36

a different direction in footwear

Brantano stock a huge range of footwear for ladies, men, and kids. It's much more a 'serve yourself' affair compared to other shoe places, but that kinda suits me down to the ground, I don't need a spotty teenager to tell me whether my shoes fit or not - I know! This place can get a bit of a mess and can get really busy at weekends but it's worth popping in next time you're upgrading your footwear!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Shell UK

04 May 08, 14:30

handy station!

This petrol station has saved me numerous times! It's open late and is en route to the M27 which means it can get busy first thing in the morning and at weekends when everyone is trying to go places. My favourite employee is the guy with long hair who works nights - he's a funny man! Long may he reign! Also handy for late night snacks when the corner shop has closed!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bath Travel

04 May 08, 14:23

that personal touch...

One of the friendliest and most helpful travel operators, they used to win award after award for their dedication and in recent years have won the prestigous 'Airline Of The Year' award beating all the major UK operators! Where they go the extra difference is because they are small and independent they can offer that personal touch - the old chairman used to personally despatch every single Bath Travel flight himself from Bournemouth Airport! Which other operator can claim that level of personal service?!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Brook

04 May 08, 13:57

some really good acts play...

The Brook over the years has hosted some really good names who have played live on their stage, and they still continue to do so with either upcoming bands performing, or older bands doing reformed tours. The place is constantly rumoured to be closing but it hasn't so far so there's still hope for the old place yet!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Thegadgetshop.Com

04 May 08, 13:28

what a job!

At one stage my ideal job was to work in the gadget shop, but then I realised I'd have to serve people and I couldn't just play around with everything all day, so I quickly shelved that plan. But if you're looking for a birthday/Christmas present for someone who's really difficult to buy for then head to the gadget shop - I almost guarantee you will find something! You'll also find a load of other things that you won't be able to stop playing with... I reckon if I had a million pounds I could easily spend half of it in this shop!!!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Tezco

04 May 08, 13:22

quality local elecrical retailer...

Do you see what they've done with the name there? Do you see? It's just coincidence of course that it sounds very much like a large supermarket chain because actually this place is not a supermarket at all - in fact it's a very small independent electrical retailer which has the benefit of staff who are experienced, who know what they're talking about, and who don't mess you around! Excellence indeed!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Beaulieu Enterprises

04 May 08, 13:09

more than just the motor museum...

Beaulieu is such a great day out of which the famous motor museum is only a small part. The Montague family do a superb job in keeping the place running, and they're forever coming up with new ideas to keep people coming back - the monorail, open gardens, numerous exhibitions, and the chance to see some classic vehicles in the motor museum - Beaulieu really is a great day out - and there's ample parking too!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Gullivers Land

04 May 08, 13:03

Theme park for families with young childrne.

Gullivers is aimed at families with young children and does this rather well. You can spend a whole day here having great fun, and there aren't hoardes of 'older kids' around to stop your little ones enjoying themselves which is good.

Gullivers also do lots of special events throughout the year and put on special displays which are well worth going to for that little something extra. The kids will love it.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Paultons Park

04 May 08, 12:59

still a great day out!

I remember from my childhood going to Paultons Park and having the best birthday day out ever! When we went again a few years back I thought I'd have grown out of the fun as Thorpe Park is geared to much younger guests compared to other theme parks, but I still had just as much fun! They've put in a great log flume and updated one of the rolllercoasters, but it's the little things like the giant slide that I love! And it's not as expensive as the other theme parks either - result!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Cineworld

04 May 08, 12:45

16 screens of fun!

With a frankly daft SIXTEEN screens of cinematic fun, if you rock up here and there's nothing on that you fancy then quite frankly you're far too fussy! What I love about Cineworld is that they leave lots of legroom between seats unlike some cinema chains, and this is still the case here despite packing in sixteen screens into the complex - you can still watch a film in comfort, and obviously there's a refreshments bit outside for that all-important popcorn/bag of sweets to rustle all the way through the quiet bits...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Xscape Centre

04 May 08, 12:41

So much fun to be had!

You know on the telly whenever there's somebody doing something snow related but they can't afford to go abroad to film it? Where do they go? To Xscape of course! This place has the giant snowdome where you can ski (or do other snow-related activities) on actual snow, and if snow isn't your thing you can go shopping or bowling and just generally have fun! You could easily spend all weekend here - apart from having to sleep in the car, that might be a bit uncomfortable...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Specsavers

04 May 08, 12:22

happy and happy to help!

Specsavers are one of the biggest glasses and contact lens retailers. So you would have thought they'd have one national database of customers on computer so that when I moved from one branch to another they'd figure I was the same person, yet I still get 'reminders' from the old branch telling me I haven't had my eyes tested in ten years and that my glasses might be out of date!

The staff at this branch always seem very happy to help, or moreover they just always seem very happy! When I've had to move appointments they've been able to do so. Also when I had a faulty contact lens they told me exactly what to do and replaced it straight away, and when I turned up to collect it guess what greeted me: yep, a happy face once more!

Very happy and efficient people, but can we club together and buy them a new computer so I stop getting out of date reminders?

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Apple Store

02 May 08, 14:28

no pressure from staff...

London's flagship Apple Store is HUGE and last time I was in London took the opportunity to nip in and have a look round. What I liked about this store compared to other Apple stores is that I felt I could just wander round and look at the products, and see what some of them could do. In other stores I always feel pressured by staff to buy a product or leave - the staff here seem happy to let you play and if you have any questions they're happy to answer them. And because of its size, even when it's got lots of people in it never seems 'busy'.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Holiday Inn Southampton

30 Apr 08, 17:18

good sea views, friendly staff!

The Holiday Inn in Southampton is huge and you can see it as you drive towards it from a distance at the bottom of Southampton. The staff here are friendly although mostly foreign, and having had some friends stay before - if you get a view over the sea you are spoilt because it's lovely (mind the car park), but if you get a view of the road it's worth asking if you can change rooms at reception if the place doesn't seem overly busy!

1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.

Review of Halfords

30 Apr 08, 17:15

good bike repairs

My brother has taken his bike here a couple of times for repair over the last few years and always had a really good service from them. The price has seemed a little high to me, but I know how much he values his bike and how happy he was with the outcome. The store is big and well laid-out too and as I say their service & repair centre seems excellent.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Halfords

30 Apr 08, 17:10

get stuff for your car if you don't havea bike!

This place is useful if you're after something for your car - much like the previous poster I used to think this place just sold bikes, but how wrong can you be?! Well THIS wrong pretty much. Oil for your car, screenwash, those funny smelly things - they've got the lot! The only hard bit can be finding what you want - I found the layout in this store a bit confusing...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Carpets'N'Beds

30 Apr 08, 16:53

friendly service!

This is not a big place, so imagine my surprise when I went in to discover that Carpets'N'Beds sell carpets AND beds! I know, I was as gobsmacked as the next man...

They don't have a huge range of beds, but what they lack in range they make up for with their local friendly approach - the guys will take care of you and make sure you get what you want whether you're after a carpet, a bed, or perhaps you're intending on really pushing the boat out and going for both? Oh you spoil yourself!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre

30 Apr 08, 16:06

great entertainment, but venue decor could be better!

I used to like the fact that it hadn't been modernised in ages - the 'rustic' look, but now 'rustic' has begun to look a bit like 'run down' and they need to do something about it soonish. The theatre itself is good, there's always something good on here whether it's a comedian, a pantomime, or a radio 4 recording (I've been to all three in the last few years!) you'll have a good night.

Top marks for the entertainment, less so for the state of the venue, but I'm sure it'll be done up soon...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Landmarc

30 Apr 08, 16:01

stunning setting... great venue!

Landmarc is a stunning new venue set in a converted church - your first impression will be 'wow' - I know mine was, and it'll be the same when you sample the food, and the same again if you see an act there. There's regular top musical and comedy acts performing - East 17 brought the roof down (not literally) when they played here last year! A really great night out!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Waitrose

30 Apr 08, 15:13

Shop here once - you'll feel posher for it!

Waitrose. The poshest of the supermarkets. And fittingly it's now also the only supermarket in Ampthill. The residents expect nothing less. I once stopped off here to go shopping and felt like I was being frowned at all the way round for not having as much posh food in my trolley as everyone else... Well I'm sorry, I thought this was a supermarket, not a place to have your lifestyle choices judged! Having said that, I did feel a bit special for being in there...

The biggest downside to this place (aside from the prices) is the car park! If you stop off on your way home you'll find the traffic piles up and you can't get out the carpark afterwards!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Earl's Restaurant

30 Apr 08, 10:58

great service & really nice food!

The staff at this place are great - they're prepared to go that extra mile to make sure you have a good meal - ask them questions about the menu and they know the answers - you can't say that about many other restaurants! And when the food does come it's brilliant. Can be a bit expensive but you're not going to eat out every day of the week, are you?!!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Evans Halshaw Ford

30 Apr 08, 10:48

knowedgeable and not too pushy...

Got my new car from here recently. The guys know their stuff and go out of their way to help you if they can - because if it makes them a sale then that's better for everyone! Great range of new & used Fords, and it's right next door to a couple of other dealerships too so take a wander and find something for you!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Music Is Life

29 Apr 08, 19:53

sheet music galore and instruments too!

I used to go here all the time for my piano music when I was learning - the staff are really friendly and helpful. I think they now sell a range of instruments - electronic and otherwise, as well as continuing to sell a wide range of sheet music - and not just classical stuff either, there's a big range of popular, jazz, rock - pretty much everything.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Gordon Arms

29 Apr 08, 19:42

student favourite...

The Gordon Arms looks like a quiet local establishment from the outside, but the owners clearly know where the money is - they've installed free wi-fi, a secret hidden door and a host of other quirks that make this place a real student favourite. The quiz night is renowned and the bar staff are a clever mix of experienced locals and students looking for some money to help pay the rent! If you want a quiet drink, pop in during the day. If you want a 'lively' drink, try going in the evening, you'll have fun!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Kolebka

29 Apr 08, 19:29

this is how pre-club venues should be done...

Kolebka is quite a new place and actually really well done. You can go there for a quiet drink if that's all you want, or you can spend an evening there with friends drinking and chatting, or if you're on your way to town it's the perfect pre-club venue. The decor is classy without being over-the-top and the staff are always friendly to boot.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Hogshead

29 Apr 08, 19:24

big bar, good atmosphere

It's part of a chain but I developed quite a fondness for this place whilst I lived in Southampton - it felt like a really big bar but small enough to still have a really good atmosphere when it matters. The bar staff always try to be as quick as they can and serve you with a smile if you ask for one!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Isobar Southampton

29 Apr 08, 18:45

good 'pre-club' venue

Isobar is a really cool venue (no pun intended... ok, pun partially intended...) that comes very close to being the trendy venue it sets out to be. The only thing that lets it down is it's location really - stuck in St Mary's means it only really attracts students on their night out to elsewhere rather than any 'regulars', but it means the atmosphere here is always good.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Joiners

29 Apr 08, 18:27

the reputation speaks for itself...

The Joiners is a legendary local venue. What amazed me here was seeing the list of famous names who have played in The Joiners before they made it big - it's a VERY impressive list... It also means that if you pop along to see a band you've never heard of then there's quite a big chance they'll turn into the next big thing. It might look dingy and scary, but go in. You'll love it. Trust me.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Cheese Kitchen

29 Apr 08, 18:22

great local cheese and not just cheese!

When I first found the Cheese Kitchen it took me a while to get around the fact that they don't just do cheese. It seemed a little disappointing to be honest. It was a bit like when Tie-Rack started 'branching out' into other accessories - what was that about? Anyway, the Cheese Kitchen - seriously good sandwiches. They're a bit pricier than the cheap supermarket options, but it's WELL worth it.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Playzone

29 Apr 08, 18:17

great fun for kids OR adults!

PlayZone is in the middle of a weird industrial estate so it doesn't feel like the most kid-friendly place from the outside, but once you're in the kids will have a brilliant time on all the giant play equipment. The best bit about PlayZone, however, is that it is available for adults to hold parties in! You can bring your own alcohol and then go jumping in ball pools! What could be better?!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Castle Cameras

29 Apr 08, 17:59

sound advice!

The guys at Castle Cameras are really helpful - my mum needed to get some prints from a friend's digital camera for her birthday and didn't have a clue how to go about it... She'd tried a few supermarkets that offer printing services but to no avail, until I suggested these guys - they gave her all the help she needed, and I think she's since been back!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Toby Carvery

29 Apr 08, 17:56

hugely popular carvery - always busy, never full!

This place has been here for years yet I only discovered it a couple of years ago... It is HUGE inside - even when the car park is full there's still tables available so you never get turned away, and the carvery option is fantastic - I've never walked away feeling less than full, and the staff are always busy, but happy to help!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Dragon Palace Chinese Cuisine

29 Apr 08, 16:55

Expensive, but worth it if you want a great meal!

This restaurant is deceptively good, and deceptively pricey. To those looking for a top chinese meal out you can't beat it, though it's probably not the place . You do pay for what you get - the food is superb and the service is second to none.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Kids World

29 Apr 08, 16:48

great fun for the kids...

When I was a kid I used to love the little play areas like this, and some friends are ALWAYS taking their little one to this one, I almost want to go back to my youth so I can join in the fun! There's some impressively large slides that the adults are scared of - yet the kids seem to know no fear!

Keep an eye on your kids though because sometimes they get up to mischief and you don't want to start a riot!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Iceland

29 Apr 08, 16:35

Even Twickenham residents can't resist...

OK, I know it has the awful Kerry Katona on the advert, and I know there is a Waitrose just round the corner, but sometimes Iceland do actually do some really good value good quality frozen stuff. I wouldn't make it your supermarket of choice, but I always make an effort to pop in once in a while to grab some bargains, because even Twickenham residents can't resist bargains, surely???

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Flitvale Garden Centre

29 Apr 08, 16:28

more than just a garden centre!

This place is not JUST a graden centre - they deliver flowers, they have a coffee shop, a big pet section, a farm shop, AND apparantly they're starting online delivery soon! Calling them a 'garden centre' is a bit derogatory really!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Seasons Garden Centre

29 Apr 08, 16:23

stuff for your garden...

As far as garden centres go, Seasons Garden Centre is up there with the best of them. Not the most exciting place in the world, but if you need something to spruce up your garden they probably have it here. I've been here a few times recently - and I don't even have a garden(!) - I just felt my flat was missing that certain je ne sais quoi, and now that I've put a plant in it I've discovered what was missing. With thanks to Seasons!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Park Inn Hotel

29 Apr 08, 14:44

very welcoming hotel

The staff at the Park Inn Hotel have made sure I've always had a good time when popping in here and were very welcoming when I went to a job fair a few months back! They go out of their way to help if they can and you're never kept waiting long at reception or the bar. And I haven't even mentioned the awesome river views from the bar... If you get a room, fingers crossed you get a river view and not the car park!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Blarney Stone

29 Apr 08, 14:10

the real deal Irish pub!

In case you can't quite tell from the name, this place is an Irish Pub! You can get those Irish pubs that seem a bit like a half-baked effort at being a theme pub, but not this place! I've been here a couple of times, and could've been mistaken for thinking I was in Ireland - the clientel, the beer, the atmosphere - top stuff!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Selfridges

29 Apr 08, 12:58

unlike any other shop!

I've been to this Selfridges a couple of times on trips to Birmingham, and must confess I've found it great to just wander round and look at the bizarre things that lots of money can buy you nowadays! I once went on a bank holiday weekend which I now realise wasn't a great idea because there were more people than products in the shop, but even so the place just gave off that 'wow factor'. Despite my being impressed for the design and feel of the place, I didn't actually buy anything... Which is kinda a drawback for a shop... I looked at the prices for some things and just felt like I was paying for being in Selfridges rather than the product itself...

Overall, fantastic experience, and probably great for shopping, if you are VERY loaded.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of ATS Euromaster

28 Apr 08, 18:09

helpful about tyres...

The guys here were very helpful last year when I needed a new tyre. I left the old one with them for a bit and they sorted the whole thing out told me how much it'd be and I went away happy. The place was reccommended to me so I'm reccommending it on!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Oxygen Nightclub UK

28 Apr 08, 17:47

always enjoy myself here...

I always feel like I shouldn't like Oxygen - but I do! It's always a good night and if you don't like the music in one room, there's four to choose from and they're usually all playing different music so it's a real bonus - it also means you can get away from THAT person rather than spend most of the night trying to avoid them! Entry prices are what you'd expect for a town centre club - some nights can be more than others but it's usually not a bad price, and drinks prices are reasonable too.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Fleurette Florist

28 Apr 08, 16:54

jolly nice flowers, jolly nice people!

The girls at Fleurette do a brilliant job in picking some lovely arrangements and are genuinely nice people too! The kind of place you can pop in for a bunch of flowers and find yourself not leaving for half an hour.. Not because it's taken that long to find a good bunch (they're everywhere, and if you can't find what you want they'll make it for you), but because you just end up nattering for that long!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Harpur Centre Florists

28 Apr 08, 16:52

brilliant colour bouquets!

The flowers on offer from Harpur Centre Florists are always in brilliant colour as soon as you walk through the door - in fact, beforehand! I've got a few bouquets from here and they always go down well - if you want to surprise someone with a gorgeous bunch of flowers try these people!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Harvey's Bar

28 Apr 08, 16:49

Great place to spend an evening...

Harvey's is always a great night out. It's open quite late, so whilst it is laid out like a bar and aimed at a more pre-club crowd than as the main venue, I've frequently ended up just staying here for the evening because the place has a cool welcoming atmosphere.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of FOCUS Do It All

28 Apr 08, 15:51

invaluable little store!

When I was doing up my flat recently I found this place invaluable for those DIY essentials because I found it overall slightly cheaper than the major DIY chains and the staff were really helpful, which was great because you know how stressful DIY can be, the last thing I wanted was a snooty member of staff!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Argos

24 Apr 08, 13:07

busy but efficient...

Down in Bournemouth's town centre this Argos gets very busy at weekends and lunchtimes as the workforce of the town pop in to pick up that little thing they need, as the staff are suddenly overwhelmed!

They do try and process the orders as quickly as possible and so I've never had to wait for a long time for my number to be called - It's a bit like winning a raffle when they call your number out, until you remember that you've already paid for your 'prize'...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Argos

24 Apr 08, 12:20

really good service here!

I've shopped at this Argos store several times in recent months, and I have to say I've always found the staff here to be really helpful, really polite, and really friendly! At weekends things get a little hectic as you'd expect, but if you've got time, pop in during the week and you'll find that what you want is probably in stock, and the staff are in a really chatty mood. Plus they are fairly efficient in bringing out your order too which is always a good thing, and if you order something big they're more than happy to help you bring it to the car if you can't manage on your own!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Oceanarium

22 Apr 08, 18:00

Great trip out for the family!

The Oceanarium really is a great addition to Bournemouth's seaside setting. It's literally right on the beach, and allows you to explore the life that lives yonder! There's fish in there that really look nothing like fish, you do wonder if they could be done under the trade descriptions act, although of course they can't, because they aren't doing any kind of trade, they're just there - swimming in a tank. One fish says to the other - how do you drive this thing?

Anyway, back to the review, take the kids, it's a lovely place to visit - probably not quite a 'day out' but at least a decent afternoon. Price is perhaps a little on the dear side but then it is right on Bournemouth seafront and aimed at tourists so I guess you pay for the privelage.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Wilkinson

22 Apr 08, 17:22

cheap goods in a Tardis-like environment!

This Wilkinson is one of the smaller Wilkinson stores, but still manages to cram in the same range of food, drink, clothing and homeware as all the other Wilko stores. I'm still not entirely sure how they do it - is the place a Tardis?

The answer to the last question is a 'no', by the way. Because there is no blue flashing light on top of the store, nor is there a sign outside declaring it as a 'police box'.

There are, however, bargains galaore, so come, filll your boots! (Well, preferably your trolley, beacuse if you literally fill your boots you might get accused of shoplifting...)

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Matalan Discount Club Cash Carry)Ltd

22 Apr 08, 17:20

the 'new' Primark?

You know Matalan - the large chain store of discount clothes, some of it good, some of it not so much - well this is one of those! It's a huge warehouse of a place that you could frankly get lost in (if it weren't just a large metal square box). The staff are unhelpful and look at you blankly when you ask them a question, and for some reason you need a Matalan card to buy anything (though when they ask if you have one and you say no, they give you another one, so go figure...). That said, I've bought some good stuff from Matalan over the last few months - might it become the new Primark once more?! Hoefully not, I want it to stay my little secret!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Republic

22 Apr 08, 16:26

top end brands at prices you can't really afford...

Republic sells a lot of the top end brands and mix it with some of the lesser-well-known ranges. It goes down quite well, though personally I've never really understood their label obsession, sticking by the same trusted brands even when their ranges aren't anything special.

The staff are usually fashion-conscious trendy students so always able to offer their advice on the matter which can be really useful too. On the downside it's rather expensive...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Iceland

22 Apr 08, 16:04

Actually quite good bargains!

Mums go to Iceland because the girl from Atomic Kitten told them to. Everyone else goes to Iceland because actually a lot of their frozen food is really good value for what it is! You can usually pick up exactly the same food that you'd get in Tesco/Sainsburys/Asda at a fraction of the price. Obviously you shouldn't do your whole weekly shop here, because eating entirely frozen is probably not great for your health, but to pick up a few bargains it's a great source.

And there's not a Kerry Katona in sight. Thankfully.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bookends Bookshop

22 Apr 08, 16:01

Independent book retailer doing a roaring trade...

Bookends is one of the staples of Christchurch that has seemingly 'bookended' this end of the High Street forever! The staff have a great knowledge and clearly love the literature they sell, they have fascinating displays at certain times of the year, and often have in-store readings and celebrity visists when possible.

You can obviously pick up all the big books of the moment, and if you need to track down something a little more specialist then their advanced computer system can help (though be honest, it is just Amazon they're searching through isn't it??!) Apparantly it's not because a lot of it is cheaper than the aforementioned online store. So there.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of W H Smith

22 Apr 08, 15:59

still going strong despite the internet...!

The long-standing stationary retailer still stands! WH Smith has managed to stay afloat in this world where online rules the roost, so fair play to them for streamlining their stores to make them profitable.

They still sell a huge selection of CDs and DVDs, including special and classical charts, and anything they don't have they can order in for you. They also have a huge range of books - from the latest bestsellers to some of the alltime classics, if you're going away and fancy a paperback to peruse on the plane/train/coach/bus/pedalo then you'll be able to find something here to give a good thumb through.

And that's not to mention the magazines, pens, paper pads, or gift ideas, of which they have lots. In fact, having written this review, it's a miracle how they fit it all in the store!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Envy

22 Apr 08, 15:51

independent range alongside high street brands

Envy have a large clothing range for men and women and also sell accessories and footwear.

They are one of these trendy shops that have recently started selling their own label stuff alongside the big brands you'd expect to find at a shop like this such as FCUK and Teddy Smith. The place can feel a bit 'chavvy' because of these brands, but don't let it put you off because there IS some good stuff and the staff are nice too!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Mr David English

22 Apr 08, 15:47

sports centre with good facilities

The David English sports centre is a well-equipped and well-run gym that actually belongs to the neighbouring Bournemouth School, but is run out-of-school hours as a leisure centre. Memberships are quite reasonable and there is a huge range of classes you can take part in. There is no swimming pool, which is just about the only downside of the David English - that along with the limited parking, but to be fair, if you're going to the gym, walk there!!!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of ShakeAway

22 Apr 08, 15:41

their milkshake brings all the boys (and girls) to the yard...

Kelis' Milkshake might well have brought all the boys to the yard, but a ShakeAway brings all the boys AND girls, and most importantly keeps them coming back for more! ShakeAway's unique selling point is that they pretty much put anything you want into a milkshake... They have a massive range on the wall, and a very long list of suggestions, but if you have your own ideas and think they are better then you are more than welcome to suggest it to them and have them make you up your very own milkshake - how very cool!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Next

22 Apr 08, 15:39

really good range at reasonable prices...

Next do some really good stuff - menswear, ladieswear, and a good selection of home stuff. Some of their top end stuff can seem a little overpriced but a lot of their range seems about right.

They have a really good selection of menswear available in sizes XS-XXL which are usually all in stock - excelllent! The staff are always pleasant and friendly and will always go and check out the back if you want to know if they've got something in a different size/colour...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Wilkinson

22 Apr 08, 15:15

everything cheaper than elsewhere!

Stationary, food, drink, clothing, cutlery, crockery, home, garden, they've got EVERYTHING in this store and for the most part it's cheaper than you can find it elsewhere!

I always used to make this the first port of call for all those 'back to school' goods and you'd usually pick up a whole load of extra bits that you didn't really need but you'd put in your basket because you saw the price and couldn't resist!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Ampthill Fireplaces

22 Apr 08, 14:29

Great quality, good service...

A friend recently had their fireplace done by these guuys and it look stunning. They've got a huge selection of fireplaces and stoves - and you can even order online nowadays! The in-store team are really friendly and apparantly the fitters were polite and knowledgeable. So all-round, a really good service start to finish!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Centre MK

22 Apr 08, 14:01

The best shopping centre in miles

This is the closest “everything under one roof” shopping centre I know of within 50 miles of Flitwick.

They really do have everything here – there’s clothes, shoes, food, drink, household – the lot.

Plus every big department store you can think of – a massive John Lewis, BHS, Debenhams, House of Fraser – what more could you ask for?

And the best bit – free parking (if you know where to look!)

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Wimbledon Stadium

22 Apr 08, 13:46

a good evening of fun...

It's fast becoming a great night out and gaining popularity as a good venue for partys or work dos. As the above poster said, if you know you're going in advance and check the website you can usually get some discounts which always helps.

And there's nothing better than that winning feeling!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

21 Apr 08, 17:41

old ships... but good to look at!

The HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and the once sunken Mary Rose all reside here, and the Historic Dockyard allows you to learn about the ships..

I went once years ago with school and actually had a really good day - it was educational but enjoyable, and I've been back since on my own and I know others who've been of a weekend just for a wander round and found it a great experience, especially when there is an event on, which happens frequently during the summer!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Clinton Cards

21 Apr 08, 17:13

Handily located in the student area...

In amongst the charity shops, banks, and takeaways that line Portswood Road is Clinton Cards - your friendly card shop. Ideal when you've forgotten that important birthday (which clearly wasn't that important else you would have remembered it), or a 'sorry you're leaving us' card for that person at work who has announced their departure even though you never really liked them anyway.

The staff are friendly to chat to if you've got time for a natter as well.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Bullring Shopping Centre

21 Apr 08, 15:23

Another part of the centre...

This part of the Bullring is attached to the other part, really it's the same place if we're being honest, so there's more shops here and if there's anything you can't find in the other part of The Bullring then it'll probably be in this bit.

The Bullring has been well thought out - you can arrive on train and Birmingham New Street Station comes out right into the shopping centre, there's a MASSIVE car park, and the bus links are good too, there's frankly no reason not to come here... Unless you live in another country.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of The Secklow Hundred

21 Apr 08, 14:40

Cheaper than them nextdoor

To the best of my knowledge, there are four Weatherspoon pubs in central MK, and this is one of the 2 ‘Lloyds No 1 Bar’ branded ones.

It’s ideally located nextdoor to the far more expensive (and far less down-to-earth) All Bar One (see my separate review), so here’s a tip:

If you’re going on a blind date (through t’interweb or what have you), arrange to meet them in All Bar One (it’s a bit posher inside), then after one, move nextdoor to spoons for cheaper food and drink, better service and louder music.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Lloyds No. 1 Bar

21 Apr 08, 14:12

Cheap and very cheeful

Of the 4 Weatherspoon venues that I can immediately think of in MK, this has to be the finest.

Spread across 2 floors and a semi-outsidey bit, there’s plenty of room for eating, drinking, dancing at cavorting. The food and drink are spoontastically good value (cheap) and in the words of R Kelly, if Lloyds in the Theatre District were a woman, she’s got that vibe.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Pizza Hut

21 Apr 08, 11:52

Efficient staff, located in shopping centre...

This Pizza Hut is located on the top floor of the West Quay shopping complex in the 'food court' area. Whenever I've eaten here I've been surprised by the efficiency of the staff compared to some other Pizza Hut restaurants, they actually refil the free refil drinks when you're running out, rather than having to ask them to do it, and if you go when the buffet is on there's always a good range including vegetarian.

Being in the shopping centre means it's not open in the evenings, so is busiest at lunchtimes, especially weekends when it gets packed with families.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of B & Q

20 Apr 08, 19:19

MASSIVE B&Q

This B&Q is situated at the popular Castle Point retail park. It is MASSIVE, I once heard a rumour it was the biggest B&Q in the country, though that is yet to be confirmed. Perhaps if you go in ask at the customer services desk - they might be able to find out for you. The staff are relatively helpful for a DIY store, just watch out for 'maniacs' pushing their trolleys round the corners at speeds Lewis Hamilton would be proud of with half a tonne of wood on board because it'll more than likely end in tears.

Being at Castle Point means there is also a massive car park so if you like hire an articulated truck and park it up outside just in case you get carried away and buy more than you thought...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Priory Sports

20 Apr 08, 19:09

Independent sport retailer

The only successful independent sports retailer I have ever seen that has seemingly managed to remain a success, top marks to Priory Sports! Being independent means they stock a different range of products to that you will find anywhere else, and their staff are well trained because it is in the shop's benefit.

Well worth a look if you're fed up of being served elsewhere by a spotty teenager who doesn't know what he's talking about...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Tesco

19 Apr 08, 17:33

They do probably sell everything...

This Tesco doesn't sell food. No way. Not a bit. Well, ok, it does sell a bit, but only a few snacks. The main purpose of this Tesco is to sell everything that Woolworths used to sell, but better. Downstairs there is a colossal array of stationary, more varieties of post-it note than you could ever possibly need, and a lot of kitchen utensils - half of which could double-up as surgical tools should the NHS get really bad.

Upstairs you can buy a massive TV, a brand new hi-fi, the latest album, or some clothes.

See... literally everything you could ever want, and more. Though I'm yet to find the kitchen sink department. I'm sure it's there somewhere...

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Mecca Bingo

19 Apr 08, 17:29

Actually really good fun!

How do you make a group of pensioners swear at you? Shout bingo!

It's funny because it's true. By day, this bingo place smells vaguely of urine, but by night it becomes quite a good laugh as the young and old combine as they "eyes down look in" blot out their numbers in search of that all-elusive win.

It's actually a surprising amount of fun, and the word is spreading as more and more young folk join in.

Bingo - don't knock it til you've tried it!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Asda Stores

19 Apr 08, 17:27

The biggest supermarket you can imagine... and then some!

This is the biggest supermarket I have EVER seen... It even has it's own car garage where you can get your tyres done while you shop - RIDICULOUS!

Once inside, it's harder than you think not getting lost, aisle after aisle after aisle of goodness all going cheap. You might be thinking that what with the size of this place and the cheapness that it is always busy and takes ages to get through the checkout - not so - I have never once had to queue more than 1 person in front of me before being served, and I have never had trouble parking. In fact, the car park is huge as well, I have never seen it even nearly full.

This is a good thing. Also, being out in Chandler's Ford, it means you won't have to navigate any nasty town-centre traffic in the nearby dwellings of Winchester, Eastleigh, or Southampton.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Asda Stores

19 Apr 08, 17:12

I love this Asda... possibly for the wrong reasons...

This is my favourite Asda in the world, and for one very simple reason: the lady on the tannoy. I don't know if she still works there, but three or so years ago, there was a lady who would basically just have a conversation with herself over the tannoy on a regular basis in broken English. Always had me creasing up in the pasta aisle for no particular reason. On many an occasion I actually forgot what I came in for as I was mesmerized by her voice.

The other amazing thing about this Asda is that it has an in-store mobile phone fixing shop, a chinese drug store thing, an ironing place, and a hairdressers - presumably so you can have your clothes ironed and your hair cut whilst you shop...?!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Clinton Cards

19 Apr 08, 16:41

There's more here than just cards you know!

This card shop has saved me numerous times from embarassing "oh, is it today?!" situations! Whatever the occasion they have the card to match, whether it be happy or sad news, birthdays to funerals there is a card to suit. The good news is that this shop has more than cards so if you feel that a keyring or a comedy mug is the perfect accompaniment to your card then your luck is in.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Lo-Profile

18 Apr 08, 18:17

New gay club venue for London!

Lo-Profile is the new gay venue in Soho, yet another string to the bow of Gaydar - alongside their award-winning website, radio station, and bar over on Frith Street, Lo-Profile is the company's first night club venture.

It's a really well done-out venue, always hosting top nights, and loads of celebrity friends - politicians, TV presenters, and musicians have all been spotted boogying the night away recently!

The bar isn't cheap, but hey, this is London baby, and this is a great venue for you to party the night away in! Love it!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Hunt Hotel

18 Apr 08, 17:47

Good enough for Royalty... back in the day!

Legend has it that Edward 8th, when Prince of Wales, used to come up to the Hunt with Mrs Simpson for a weekend of…hunting. It is probably just a legend but keen hunters did come up by train to the station, collect their horses in Linslade and gallop off after the local foxes.

The Hunt nowadays doesn’t look anything special, from the outside, or from the inside, where the décor and furniture are somewhat faded. The restaurant however is a lot smarter, though not to the point where you feel there’s a fiver on the bill to cover the cost of the wallpaper.

The food is what sets the Hunt apart—the landlord’s wife has probably cooked me a hundred meals by now, and has never disappointed. The food is fresh and inventive, without ever being pretentious, and, if a visitor to the town ever wanted an eating-out recommendation, I would go for the Hunt every time.

Parking for the Hunt isn’t great—there’s an awkwardly shaped park down a narrow, ivy -infested lane near the church, though it does have one of the local council’s security cameras to make sure your car is safe. There is also some on street parking in the Linslade one way systems, but I’d recommend you to bring the Smart car rather than the Roller.

The Hunt has bedrooms, but I can’t comment on them, having never got lucky like the Prince of Wales! The beers I can recommend, though, as I am keen on real ales and not the frothy milk-shake rubbish served in some places. There are good guest beers and always old favourites like IPA. Sometimes they have one called ’Old Bob’, though the landlord, Bob, says it’s not named after him (and he’s not old). So I can recommend the Hunt—it’s a place to look beyond the décor, order a good pint and enjoy some excellent food

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Review of Aldwickbury Park Golf Club

18 Apr 08, 17:40

Run for the hills...

This is at the back of Harpenden, with the course sloping away down to the river Lee in the valley. So there are some quite steep ascents and descents—enough to keep a golfer fit, but not enough to require crampons, oxygen and resuscitation. The downhill holes are also good for the ego, as even an ordinary golfer can hit 300 yard plus drives—my wind-assisted record is now 350 yards (but I still didn’t par the hole!)

The management have been spending money to improve the course, and it shows, though maturity will take a few more months. Young hedges will need time to thicken up.

There’s very little water on the course, though the lake on the 18th gets a few visitors. The fairways are wide, and, at least in the spring, the rough isn’t too rough and if you stray into the trees you stand a good chance of finding your ball. The story from the members is that they don’t have to buy too many balls, and that favourite balls retire from old age, not because they get lost!

Some of the holes have hedgerows across the fairways, so golfers have to decide between going for glory, and laying up, which adds interest. The clubhouse is smart, and, thank goodness, stops short of being pretentious. There are security codes on the changing room doors, which are necessary, but I find a little irritating.

The bar and lounge are big, pleasant rooms overlooking the 18th hole and its magnetic lake, and, as visitors, we found the staff very welcoming and catering good. We have already booked our return trip, and would recommend it to you!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Graffiti Restaurant

18 Apr 08, 17:30

What colourful fish!

On Saturday nights it can be tricky to get into a restaurant without having booked in advance, but Graffiti managed to make the three of us welcome and find us a table. It’s called Graffiti because diners are given crayons and encouraged to be artistic on the paper tablecloths. Good drawings are then put up on the walls, which must save on the decoration costs.

The centrepiece is a brilliant marine aquarium, with waving corals and unlikely- coloured fish darting in and out of them. The staff, quite rightly, are proud of the aquarium and very protective of it. Another less obvious feature is one of those trailing tradescantia plants, which goes up one wall, across the ceiling on cuphooks, along the opposite wall, then round to the opposite corner—about 40 feet long we reckoned (is this a record?!).

And what about the food—well, we were impressed. A pasta dish was good; the pizza big, excellent and beautifully crispy. I had a calzone, a folded-over pizza, which was huge—it seemed to stretch across the plate halfway to Bedfordshire, and tasted excellent.

The food was big, but the bill wasn’t, so it was a big thumbs-up from us for Graffiti, and we’ll be back

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Three Locks Golf Club Shop

18 Apr 08, 17:26

Golf Club (not shop) Review

This course is a little gem—immaculately kept and playable almost every day of the year, unlike other courses which close randomly in winter because of mud and the weather. There’s only one winter green and buggies are available all winter except in the wettest weather. The course is in two halves—6 holes up the hill, and 12 down on the flat in the river Ouzel valley.

There’s lots of water as the fairways criss-cross the river, but relatively few bunkers. The course layout is logical, with just a couple of crossovers.

It’s good for wildlife, with swans, kingfishers, ducks and terns. The mink now seem to have gone, and there are occasional otters. The lakes and river have some big chub. It’s both a club and pay-and-play, and there’s not usually any problem getting a tee time. Rico, who takes bookings and tends the bar, is particularly helpful and is a real asset to the club.

The only niggles are the changing rooms, which are a bit basic (but scheduled for improvement) and the catering, which is motorway service area standard, despite a new kitchen.

Overall the Three Locks, if you go for the golf, hits the spot, with its excellent standard of greenkeeping, and every day playability

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Wheatsheaf The

18 Apr 08, 17:24

LB's No. 1 Live music venue

This place as a bit of a reputation for being “Biker Heaven” etc., but go on the right night and you’ll get some great live music that just may surprise you.

I was lucky enough to end up there one evening a couple of years back and stumble on ‘The Aviators” blues band live, and it made for a really different evening of live entertainment. Anyway, I’d much rather be in here with the fairly laid-back bitter-drinking bikers than stuck sweating in Renoirs with all the 18-year-olds!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Waterstone's

18 Apr 08, 17:09

More than just books... they sell CDs too!

This Waterstones is located downstairs in the West Quay retail complex, which is bizarre really because if you had the ability to fly through floors, you're probably less than 100m away from the other Waterstones outside, but hey, you can never have too much of a good thing! Being downstairs and a bit 'away from the action' this is a quieter bookshop - if you can have one of those, I've never really been in a bookshop that I'd describe as 'noisy', but you catch my drift...

The usual lineup of bestsellers in the window continues with more books inside, shelves full of the things in fact. I once was trying to locate a book here for a relative and the member of staff was very helpful and knew exactly where it was!

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review of Waterstone's

18 Apr 08, 17:02

Helpful staff, and a good range of books!

The stone-clad building that encompases Waterstones is located on the main shopping high street in Southampton and so fills up with passers by hoping to find something they might like, especially around Christmas time when they are struggling to find gifts for family members who they don't see that often.

If you are genuinely just looking for a book though it's quite a good branch and quite well laid out with helpful staff available.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.